The 2022 Kia EV6 Promises Up to 300 Miles or 576 hp!

The U.S.-spec 2022 Kia EV6 has finally arrived and it appears to be quite a compelling option for those wanting to go all-in on battery-electric vehicles. Built on the Hyundai Motor Group’s E-GMP platform shared with the Hyundai Ioniq 5, the Kia EV6 is sleeker and sportier of the two. Like most EVs, the EV6 is low slung for maximum wind-cheating capabilities. You get Kia’s latest iteration of its corporate look that now includes the headlights to create its tiger face appearance. The EV6’s rear is its most controversial design aspect because of its angles. From the two full-width LED light strips to the raked rear window and liftback-style hatch, you won’t mistake the EV6 for anything else. It’s also the latest Kia model to wear the brand’s new logo, which first debuted in the U.S. on the Carnival minivan.

Step inside and it’s clear that the 2022 Kia EV6 takes advantage of its EV-specific platform. The generous 114.2-inch wheelbase rivals that of the Telluride’s and provides a roomy interior. Additionally, the battery’s placement under the passenger compartment yields a flat floor, allowing Kia to add nifty features like the floating center console. That separation between the dash and center console opens up the front of the cabin, allowing the driver and front passenger to enter or exit on either side. Kia’s full Drive Wise suite of active safety features will be available on the EV6 and include Highway Driving Assist II, which builds on the existing system with additional capabilities like automatic lane changing. Front automatic emergency braking has also been upgraded to work at intersections. However, the Kia EV6 doesn’t appear to be getting the blind spot view monitor, which will be available on the 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5. The latest version of Kia’s user interface also gets an update, which includes an available augmented reality head-up display and a dual-screen layout featuring two 12.0-inch displays.

Kia will initially sell the EV6 in short- and long-range flavors. The former gets a 58-kWh battery and a 167-hp electric motor mounted in the rear. Long-range variants get a 77.4-kWh battery and 218 hp electric motor in rear-drive guise. Dual-motor models, which get the bigger battery standard, have 313 hp. We suspect the 300-mile model will be the single-motor flavor with the big battery. In late 2022, the final member of the family joins the lineup: the EV6 GT. This is the dual-motor, high-performance version aimed at the Ford Mustang Mach-E GT and the Tesla Model Y Performance. Kia says that the EV6 GT can hit 60 mph in under 3.5 seconds. It also makes use of the larger 77.4-kWh battery.

Thanks to the E-GMP platform, the EV6 supports 400-volt and 800-volt charging. That means it can hit peak charging speeds of 350 kW, allowing it to charge from 10 to 80 percent in 18 minutes or gain 70 miles in five minutes via a level 3 DC charger. Using a level 2 or 240-volt charger, you can fully charge the EV6 in 7 hours and 10 minutes thanks to its 11-kW onboard charger.

When the 2022 Kia EV6 goes on sale in early 2022, a limited production first edition model will be available for reservation. Three color combinations will be offered: Glacier with dark green seats, and Urban Yellow or Steel Grey Matte with black seats. Only 1,500 units of the Ev6 First Edition will be made.